MUNCIE — The Delaware County Health Department on Tuesday issued cease and desist orders to the Debonair Club, Big John's Bar and Grill/Platinum and two other retail food establishment permit holders.

It's part of the health department's annual enforcement action against food establishments that fail to re-register and pay yearly fees. Ten permit holders were issued notices last year. The notices order the permittees to halt food operations.

The order to Big John's, described by the health department as an after-hours club that serves food and alcohol at 402 W. Eighth St., was directed to Marilyn Orr and Eric Jackson.

The Debonair Club at 1324 N. Gavin St. also serves alcohol and food. A sign posted on its door reads, "Closed by order of the Delaware County Health Department" above the cease and desist notice.

Also receiving notices were the Bearded Baker/Ronald Heath, an Eaton resident who used kitchen facilities at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, and Ruby Woods, 2541 N. Elgin St., formerly proprietor of Ruby's Kitchen on East Jackson Street who had used the kitchen at the Forest Park Senior Citizens Center.

"I kept getting calls last year that Ruby was cooking food in her home and delivering it to people in the parking lot of the old Kmart," county food inspector Terry Troxell told The Star Press. "I stopped that and got her in at Forest Park so she could legally do stuff like that. Technically, she's a caterer."

After talking to staff at Cornerstone, Troxell believes the Bearded Baker has gone out of business.

Depending on the square footage of an establishment, an annual food permit costs between $150 and $430. However, there is a $100 late fee for those who don't renew on time and a $70 re-opening fee based on county ordinance.